Single sheet feed mechanism



Nov. 19,-1957 A. G, BERGLUND ETAL v 2,813,612

w SINGLE SHEET FEED MEGHANISM l Filed July 24.l 195:5 e sheets-sheet 1INVENToRs, ARTHUR c. BERGLUNHJ WALTER H. oLsoN Nov. 19, 1957 A. G.-BERGLUND E'rAL 2,813,612

SINGLE SHEET FEED MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 24. 1953 ARTHURG. BERGLUND WALTER H OLSON 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 A. G. BERGLUND ETAL SINGLESHEET FEED MECHANISM Nov. 19, 1957 Filed July 24. 1953 Nov. 19, 1957 A.G. BERGLUND ET A1. 2,813,612

SINGLE SHEET FEED MECHANISM Filed July 24. 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 G.BERGLUND WALTER H. OLSON )Ms f ATTOR YS..

FIG.6

Nov. 19, 1957 A. G. BERGLUND ET AL SINGLE SHEET FEED MECHANISM 6Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 24. 1953 I lllllll Illlll mm INVENTORS. ARTHURG. BERGLUND BY WALTER OLSON 514W@ V. whz

ATTO NEYS.

yNov. 19, 1957 A. G. BERGLUNDYETAL 2,813,612

SINGLE SHEET FEED MECHANISM Filed July 24. 1953' 6 Sheds-Sheet 6 FICH()233 FIG. I3

. g5 A INVENTORS.

ARTHUR G, BERGLUND WALTER H. oLsoN Y BY @n Vf" y@ AT TO NE YS.

United States Patent O SINGLE SHEET FEED MECHANISM Arthur G. Berglund,South Norwalk, and Walter H.

Olson, Westport, Conn., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Sperry RandCorporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July24, 1953, Serial No. 370,066

21 Claims. (Cl. 197--130) the invention may be readily adapted forfeeding mai.

terials other than paper or card stock to operating stations other thanthe printing platen of a business machine.

Business machines of the class herein disclosed are ordinarily equippedwith paper feed drive mechanism of the automatic compensating type whichmay be controlled in accordance with any one of a variety of operatingconditions occurring in the machine to impart an occasional long orcompensating feed stroke to the paper in place of the usual line spacingfeed stroke. When the paper being fed comprises prepared business forms,a long or compensating feed stroke may be employed to advance the paperfrom any printing position on a preceding form to the desired iirstprinting position on a succeeding form.

lt will of course be appreciated that in long compensating feedoperations the paper is driven at considerably higher velocity thanduring the normal line space feeding thereof, which velocity is directlyproportional to the length of form employed, and also that whenemploying business forms, the accurate registration of the paper inprinting position about the platen is an important result to beachieved. When the forms to be printed are on a continuous roll orotherwise connected together, the problem of obtaining accurateregistration thereof in conjunction with long or compensating feedstrokes is more easily overcome since under these conditions the feedingmechanism may be in constant positive engagement with the paper in sucha manner that each successive form will be drawn into correctregistration about the platen by the form which preceded it. When theforms to be fed constitute individual unconnected sheets, as is oftendesired, the correct registration thereof in printing position at thehigh feeding speeds encountered in long compensating feed strokes,presents additional problems since under these circumstancesregistration must be made for each individual sheet fed and without theassistance of the form preceding it in the line of feed. t

Itis therefore an object of the present invention to provide improvedmeans for feeding individual and unconnected sheets of ilexible materialat high speeds to a succession of accurately registered spaced positionswith respect to other machine members operable thereon.

It is a further object of the invention to enable the accurateregistration of individual sheets feeding at high speeds through asingle` sheet feeding mechanism.

ICC

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a single sheetfeeding mechanism a registration station for momentarily delaying theadvance of each4 sheet being fed and then releasing the sheet at theprecise moment required for bringing it into accurate registration withother machine members operable thereupon.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide a single sheetfeeding mechanism which may be readily adjusted for accommodating sheetsof various sizes and also for varying the area of the sheet on which thework thereon may be performed.

The mechanism of the invention, in the embodiment herein disclosed, ismounted in an independent framework which may be detachably mounted onthe head of a tabulating machine. It includes a magazine havingadjustable wall portions for maintaining cards or sheets of varioussizes in stack formation; vacuum applying means for separating a singlesheet from the remainder of the stack; feed rollers releasable at apredetermined point of the feeding cycle for withdrawing the separatedsheet from the magazine; a sensing means, controlled by the movement ofthe sheet a predetermined distance, for restoring said feeding rollers;and a registration station comprising a sheet stop member disposedadjacent the printing platen to delay the advance of the sheet intoprinting position about the platen until a precisely predetermined pointin the feeding cycle. i i

Other objects and features of the invention, together with thestructural details by which they are carried out, will be apparent fromthe following description when read in conjunction with the drawingswherein:

Fig. 1 is a right hand view in elevation taken along the section lines1--1 of Figs. 5 and 6 and showing the feeding-mechanism mounted on thehead of a tabulating machine with Which it cooperates;

Fig. 2 is a detail rear view illustrating the construction of the vacuummanifold and related parts;

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the feeding mechanism taken `from the righthand side;

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the feeding mechanism taken from the left handside; i

Fig. 5 isa front elevation of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the mechanism with a portion of the feed tablebroken away to more clearly show the related parts of the tabulator longfeed drive mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the parts as shown in Fig. l andillustrating the passage of relatively long sheets through themechanism; i

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating the passageof relatively short sheets or cards through the mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figs. 7and 8 and illustrating the manner in which sheets are released from theregistration station;

Fig. 10 is a wiring diagram of the device;

Figs. 1l and 12 are detail views respectively of the separate camsmounted on the tabulator long feed drive mechanism for` controlling thetiming of the feeding mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8` but ata different stage of the feeding cycle; and

Fig. 14 is a detail view in section of a portion of the sheetwithdrawing mechanism which is shown in side elevation in Fig. l.

The invention is shown herein as adapted for a record control tabulatorhaving a universal compensating paper feed drive mechanism of the typefully disclosed in patent to I. H. McDonnell, No. 2,476,449, issued.luly 19, 1949, the tabulator being more fully disclosed in patent to I.Mueller, No. 2,381,361, issued August 7, 1945. As

disclosed therein, the tabulator is housed in a framework including aleft'and right hand sidey frame casting 11, 12 respectively. Printing iseffected by type elements 13 carried by each of .a series of.differentially settable type bars 14, said type hars rising eachoperating cycle to bringadesired'4 type element into horizontalalignment w1tha tiring pin 15. At theproper time `of each machine cycle,type'hammers 16 are released to strike the related firing-pin `15 'andthereby drive the selected type element 13 against the printing platen17. The machine herein disclosed is equipped with one hundred type bars14, thereby enabling the machine to print in one operating I'cycle andin one line the entire capacity of the wellknown'Powers 90-columntabulating card. The printing platen is carried by a platen shaft 18which is jour- .nall'ed in the 'usual way in the side frame portions ofa paper `carriage 21 vwhich is adjustably supported by a 'carriagemounting bar or rail 22 suitably supported on ,legsi23'which are securedto the top rear portion of the `sidefframe "castings 11, 12,respectively of the machine. ''Ihis yconstructionenables the papercarriage to be ad- :justably positioned laterally relative to the typebars 14. 'A The platen 'is driven through a train of gearing enclosed ina suitable housing secured to the left hand wall ofthepaper carriage,said gear train, as seen best in *Fig 4, including abevelled gear 23mounted on the left '-hand end of theplaten shaft 18 meshing with abevelled gear y24 mounted on the front end of an inclined shaft `25.vThe rear end of shaft 25 carries a bevelled gear 26 in mesh with a bevelgear 27 carried by a squared yshaft 28 which is suitably journalled inthe framework ofthe paper carriage 21.

As "fully disclosed in the aforementioned patent to McDonnelL 2,476,449,line spacing of the platen is effectled through ratchet means, includinga ratchet wheel, not shown herein, carried by the squared shaft 28 nearthe lright hand end thereof. Said ratchet means operates each cycle whenline spacing is desired to step the shaft 28 in a counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 1, which lsteppingmovement operates throughthe gearing just described to rotate the platen 17 in a clockwisedirection "a sufficient distance to effect either single, double ortriple line spacing as desired. The disclosed machine is designedtoprint siX lines to an inch when set for single line spacing, andtheplaten is of such a diameter as to feed paper thirty line spaces througheach complete "rotation thereof.

Along or compensating feed stroke is effected through the compensatingdrive mechanism, partially shown herein, 'having a compensating driveshaft 31 carrying a vdetachable drum unit to which is secured acompensating drive gear 32. Said gear 32 meshes with a gear 33 carriedby the squared shaft 28, and, during line spacing rotation of said shaft28, is driven by said gear 33 in a clockwise direction about the shaft31. scribed in said patent to McDonnell, 2,476,449, the compensatingdrum Aon which gear 32 is mounted carries a 4plurality of notched discssettable to drive the drum to different predetermined points in itsrotation one of which points may be regarded as a home position. Saidhome position in the present application represents the first print lineon which a new form is to be printed. Whenever the operating conditionsof the machine call lfor a compensating or long feed stroke, means areprovided toengage the shaft 31 of the drive mechanism with said drum atwhatever point it may have been advanced by line spacing action andthereby drive the drum and gear 32 to the desired point which, when aynew form is to be started, would be for the balance of one completerotation back to the home position. This compensating stroke iseffective within one machine cycle and operates through the shaft 28 inthe aforementioned gearing to drive the platen 17 a sufficient distanceto bring a new form into rst line print position. It will of -course heunderstood that the size of the gear 32 must As 'is fully decorrespondto the length of the form being fed. In the event it were desired tofeed for example forms eleven inches long, a gear 32 lof sufficient sizeto drive, in one rotation thereof, the platen sixty-six line spaces,would be provided. In order to facilitate the interchanging of the gears32, 33, to obtain various driving ratios, the drum upo-n which gear 32is mounted is detachably mounted as aforesaid on the shaft 31 and forthis purpose, as best seen in Fig. 4, there is a spring urged clippivoted on the drum and cooperating with an annular groove in the shaft31 for locking the vdesired Vdrum unit on the shaft 31. A plurality ofgears 33 may be provided on shaft 28 and of various sizes so as to litany one gear 32 which may be selected.

The mechanism according to the instant invention for conveying singledetached sheets of paper to and from the printing platen is supported inan independent framework comprising left and right side frame plates 41,42 respectively. Said'mechanism is detachably mounted on the tabulatorby means of angular supporting bars 43, 44 respectively, each supportedby and secured to the top front portion of each of the tabulator sideframe'castings 11, 12 respectively. The upright portion of each of thesupporting bars is in the form of a channel (Fig. 5) for receiving thebottom edge of the respective one of the side frame plates 41, 42, saidframe plates having pins 45 tting' inslots cut into the walls of saidchannel for properly locating the paper feed unit on the machine.Manually operable plungers 46 mounted in said'channel portion cooperatewith openings in the side frame plates to lock the unitin its properlocation. A pivoted retainer strip 47 disposed to overlie the heads ofthe plungers 46, holds the plungers in effective locking position. Thesupporting means justdescribed enables the unit to bc readily mounted`on the tabulator, in place of the conventional continuous sheet'feedingmechanism of the type disclosed in said aforementioned patent.

The individual sheets to be fed are supported on a feed table consistingin lpart of a plate 5l extending between and suitably secured to theside wall frame plates 41, 42. An upright plate 52 also extendingbetween and secured to the side frame plates 41, 42, constitutes thefront wall of the loading magazine and is disposed to abut the leadingedges of the sheets stacked on the feed table S1. The sheets aremaintained in stack formation by adjustably position'edplates 53, 54constituting the side walls of the loading magazine and upright platesSSconstituting the rear wall of the magazine. The side wall plates on themagazine are each provided with collars 56 slide fitted on a supportingrod-57 carried in slotted brackets '58 secured to each of the side frameplates 41, 42 respectively of the unit. Setl screws 5%* threaded intoeach of the collars 56 enable each yof the side wallplates '53, l54 ofthe maga zine to be adjustably positioned laterally with respect to thefeed table 51 so as to accommodate sheets of various widths and'also tovary laterally the relative location of a sheet of given width withrespect to the feed table 51. The rear wall members '55 of the magazinecomprise one face'of an angular plate the other face of which carries apair of studs 61 disposed to ride in a slot formed in the rearwardlyextending arm of each of the side frame plates 53, S4. One of each pairof studs 61 is threaded to receive a `locking nuty 62 so as to enablefront to rear adjustment of each rear wall member 5S vrelative to thefeed table 51. From the foregoing it will be apparent that by lateraladjustment of the side wall members 53, 54 and rearward adjustment oftherear wall members '55, all of which wall members rest on the feed table51,l sheets of any width or of any lengthvwill be positively maintainedin stack formation with the leading edges thereofv abutting against thefrontwall member 62.

Disposed forwardlyy of thefplate 51 is a laterally extending row of`individual vacuum chambers, each of said individual chambers comprisinga top plate 63, 'thefor'w'ar'd portion of which is bent downwardly in anarc and provided with slotted ports 64, a curved bottom plate 65 andsidewall enclosures 66, see also Fig. 2. Said individual vacuum chambersare suitably secured to a transversely extending frame rib 67 with theflat portion of the top plate 63 lying fiush with the plate 51 so as toconstitute a forward extension of the feed table. The plates 63, 65, 66together with the rib 67 provide a sealed in enclosure by means of whichthe vacuum may be drawn through the ports 64. The rib 67 is providedwith openings 68 entering into each individual vacuum chamber andcommunicating with a rectangular manifold 71 which is suitably securedto the rear of the rib 67 by bolts 72. Secured to the manifold is avacuum exhaust tube 73 detachably connected to an exhaust hose 74 by asuitable coupling 75. The other end of the hole 74 is connected to theintake of a vacuum pump, not shown herein, which is preferably locatedin the base of the machine and driven by the driving motor of thetabulator so as to provide a source of constant vacuum for the manifold68 and each individual vacuum chamber which may be set in operativecondition. It will be seen (Figs. 7 and 8) that a vacuum applied in theabove mentioned manner through the individual vacuum chambers will beeffective for drawing the leading edge of the lowermost sheet in themagazine, which leading edge projects forwardly of the fiat horizontalportion of the feed table, downwardly around the arcuate portion of thevacuum chamber and over the ports 64 and thereby sealing olf the vacuumfrom the remaining sheets in the stack. The sheet thus separated fromthe stack is subsequently fed out of the magazine in a mannerhereinafter to be described, whereupon the trailing edge of such sheet(Fig. 7) when traversing the arcuate portion of the vacuum chambergradually opens up the ports 64 so as to apply the vacuum to the nextlower sheet in the stack. It will be noted that the front Wall member52, at the bottom portion thereof, is in the form of laterally spacedextensions which curve rearwardly in an arc which is substantiallyconcentric to the forward edge of the hori* zontal feed table. lowermostsheet when being drawn down about the ports 64 maintains abuttingrelation with the front wall of the magazine thereby preventing thevacuum from drawing upon other sheets in the stack. It will also benoted Fig. l that the bottom edge of the side wall members 53, 54 of themagazine are shaped to conform to the outline of the vacuum chambers soas to substantially seal the vacuum within the magazine.

When feeding sheets having a width less than that of the feed table, oneor more of the individual vacuum chambers will be disposed in the areaoutside of that defined by the loading magazine. In order to preventleakage of the vacuum through such exterially disposed vacuum chambersmeans are provided to cut off each individual vacuum chamber from themanifold 71, which means comprises a shutter valve 77 (Figs. l and 2)disposed within each individual vacuum chamber and carried on the end ofa manually rotable valve stem 78. Said valve stem is journalled in theframe rib 67 and may be rotated to swing the valve 77 to a positionclosing olf the port 68 when it is desired to disable the individualvacuum chamber. In order to control the amount of vacuum applied to thevacuum chambers, as required for different stages of the feedingoperation, a butterfly valve 81 is provided in the exhaust tube 73, thestem 82 carrying a rock arm 83 pivotally connected to the armature 84 ofa vacuum control solenoid 85 by a link 86. Energization of the solenoidin a manner hereinafter more fully described occurs at the time theseparated sheet starts to feed out of the magazine and is effective forrotating the valve 81 to decrease the amount of vacuum at this time soas to lessen the drag on the sheet as it is feeding out of the magazine.

The lowermost sheet separated from the stack in the Amanner abovedescribed misnstartedmout of the `magazine In this manner the leadingedge of the at a predetermined time in the feeding cycle by means offeed rolls 87, each operatively associated with an opposed roller 88. Ascan be seen also in Figs. 5 and 6, the rolls 87 are secured fast atspaced intervals intermediate the individual vacuum chambers on a feedroll shaft 90. As best seen in Fig. 4, the left hand end of shaft 90carries a gear 91 meshing with an idler 92 suitably journalled in theleft hand frame plate 41, which idler is driven by a gear 93 mounted onthe squared shaft 28. As heretofore mentioned, the shaft 28 is the meansby which the platen 17 is driven. The gearing just described is of suchratio as to drive the feed rolls 87 at substantially the same rate asthe platen. The cooperating feed rollers 88 are pivotally carriedbetween the double bent over wall portions of individual rock arms 94mounted on a rock shaft 95. Said rock shaft is suitably journalled inthe left and right hand frame plates 41, 42, the right hand end of saidshaft 95 extending beyond the frame plate 42, as best seen in Fig. 3,having a rock lever 96 clamped thereto. Said rock lever 96 is pivoted toone of a pair of toggle links 97, the other link of the pair beingpivoted to the frame plate 42. The knuckle joint of said toggle ispivotally connected by a link 98 with the armature 99 of a solenoid 100which is suitably secured to the right hand frame plate 42 of the unit.Energization of the solenoid at the proper predetermined time in thefeeding cycle operates through said linkage to rock the shaft 95 in a-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, said shaft being restored upondeenergization of the solenoid by a restoring spring 101 connected tothe link 97. As can be best seen in Fig. 14, a thrust arm 102 is fittedbetween the Wall portions of each rock arm 94, said thrust arm beingnotched to closely lit the key 103 of the shaft 95 while the rock arm 94has an oversize notch fitted to said key. A spring 104 supported by apin 105 projecting from the bridging portion of the double walled rockarm 94 receives the thrust on the arm 102 so as to provide a yieldingeffect for the rollers S8 as the shaft 95 is rocked clockwise byenergization of the solenoid 100. The rollers 88 are disposed betweenthe projecting portion 76 of the front magazine wall plate 52 so thatupon energization of the solenoid 100 they lcontact the sheet wrappedaround the arcuate portion of the vacuum chamber and press against theassociated roller 87 so as to thereby withdraw said sheets from themagazine in accordance with the amount of drive imparted to the rolls87, which withdrawal it will be understood is in step with the rotationof the platen 17. The radius of the feed rolls 87 is slightly less thanthat of the arcuate portion of the vacuum chamberplate 63 so thatrotation of the rolls 87 is ineffective for withdrawing the sheet whenthe roller 88 is in its restored position as shown in Fig. l, but iseffective only when the roller 88 is rocked to actuated position incontact therewith by rocking of the shaft 95.

From the magazine the leading edge of the sheet is fed into a passagewaydefined by a front guide plate 111 and a rear guide plate 112. Saidguide plates are suitably secured to the side wall frame plates 41, 42,the front plate extending substantially from the feed roll 87 to theplaten 17, the rear plate 112 terminating at a point about midwaybetween said roll and said platen. The bottom portion of the plate 112is cut away at spaced intervals to accommodate feed rolls 113cooperating with rollers 114, said feed rolls 113 being disposed invertical alignment with the feed rolls 87 and mounted on a feed rollshaft 115 journalled in the side wall frame plates 41, 42. The rollers114 lie in openings cut out of the front guide plate 111 and arepivotally carried in arms 116 pivoted to brackets 117 secured to thefront guide 111, said arms being spring urged to hold each roller 114 inconstant engagement with the corresponding roll 113.

Disposed for engagement by the leading edge of the sheet at a point justin advance of the feed .roll 113 are a plurality of sheet sensinglingers 118 carried by a rock shaft 120. Said shaft is journalled inside frame plates 41, 42,

'maintained asfissia the left hand end `of the shaft, as best seen inFig. 4, projecting 'beyond the plate 41 carrying a rock arm 121 clampedthereto. Said rock arm is disposed to engage one of the pair of arms 122of a micro-switch 123 suitably secured to the left hand frame plate 41.The arrangement is such that the sheet bearing on the sensing fingers118 operates to rock the shaft 12) clockwise against tension 'of aspring 124, which clockwise movement opens the contacts of the switch123. Said switch, as hereinafter 'more yfully described, is connected inthe circuit for the solenoid so that the opening of the switch contactsoperate to deenergize the solenoid 100 to restore the feed rollers 88 totheir non-actuated position as shown in Fig. l whereupon the feed rolls113 and spring rollers 114 become the sole feeding means for continuingthe advance of the sheet through said passageway and out of the loadingmagazine.

The lower portion of the sheet passageway is defined in part, at therear thereof, by a flapper extending across the unit and supported ateach end in the arms of bell cranks 126 which. are pivoted to the leftand right hand frame plates 41, 42, respectively. Springs 127 stretch`between each of said bell cranks and the frame plates yieldablymaintain the dapper in normal spaced relation to the front guide plate111 but permit said flapper to yieldably open to allow for a loop to beformed in the sheet being fed according to the manner of operation aswill hereinafter be more fully described. The extreme bottom portion ofthe passageway is defined at the rear thereof by a plate 128 formed withdouble reverse bends and vsuitably secured to the side frames 41, 42.The forwardmost face of said plate lies in suitably spaced relation tothe front guide plate 111 thereby constituting the lower portion of thepassageway.

Disposed near the lower end of the feed passageway is an additional feedroll shaft 13@ suitably journalled in the side frame plates 41, 42 andcarrying a series of feed rolls 131 lying in cutaway portions of therear guide plate 128. An additional bearing 132 (Fig. l is provided forthe shaft near its midpoint to prevent any possible whipping action,said bearing being secured to the guide plate 128. Cooperating with eachfeed roll 131 is a pressure roller 133 lying in cutaway portions of thefront guide plate 111 and carried by a bent over double wall rockarm134, pivotally mounted on brackets 135 secured to the front guide plate111. Secured to the bridging portion of each rock arm 134 is a leafspring 136 disposed for engagement by the bent under frange 137 securedto a squared rock'shaft 141B. The left hand end of said shaft v141), asbest seen in Fig. 3, has secured thereon a rock arm'141 pivotallyconnected by link 142. with the armature 143 of a pressure roll'controlsolenoid 144, suitably secured tothe upper Vportion of the right handframe plate 42. As hereinafter more fully explained, said solenoid is'energized at predetermined times in the feeding cycle to i lrock theshaft ina clockwise direction so as to increase,through spring 136, thepressure of the rollers 133 against the rolls 131.

The feed roll shafts 115 and 1311 are driven by a belt 145 from theshaft 90, as best seen in Fig. 3. The right hand end of shaft 9i?carries a pulley 146, and the right hand end of feed roll shafts 115`and 1.30 carry pulleys 147, 148 respectively, in which pulleys saidbelt rides. Rollers 149 'carried in brackets adjustably secured to theframe plate 42 enable tension on the belt 145 to be properly lt will beunderstood that the driving ratio between the pulleys is such as to givethe feed rolls 113 v'and V131 a surface velocity which is substantiallyequal to that of the Yfeed'rolls 87 and also of the platen 17.

Thefeed rolls 131 and roll-ers 133 cooperate to advance the sheet to aregistration station which station is that point v"in sheet'travelwherein the leadingedge of the sheet abuts against a vrockable stop 151which is disposed'to block off the lower end of the passageway definedby the plates 111,

`128. Said stop r151 is carriedby a'r'ec't'an'glar "rocksliaft 152suitably journalled in the side frame plates 41` an'd 42, and operatesto block the feeding of the sheet until a predetermined time in thefeeding cycle when the shaft 152 is rocked to open the passagewaythereby enabling the sheet to reach the printing platen 17 at theprecise point in the feeding cycle required to bring the desired rstprint line of said sheet into printing alignment with the type ring pins15 at the completion of the feeding cycle. The stop 151 is openedsubstantially simultaneous with the energization of the solenoid 144 sothat the increased pressure on the pressure rolls 133 will be providedby the time the stop 151 has fully opened. The pressure on the rolls 133is adjusted so that when the solenoid 144 is not energized, there issufficient spring tension to feed the sheet to the stop but insuicienttension to prevent slipping or skidding of the rolls 133 when the sheetis held in its position of registration by the closed stop 151. In thismanner, buckling or damage to the leading edge of the sheet is avoided.Energization of the solenoid 144 as the stop 151 opens preventscontinued skidding by the rollers 133 thereby enabling release of thesheet from the registration station without slippage and at the precisemoment that the stop 151 is opened. Said solenoid 144 and said stop 151are controlled through means which includes a cam actuated bell crank153, as best seen in Fig. 4, pivotally carried by the left hand frameplate 41. One arm of said bell crank carries a bent over ear disposedfor engaging the switch arm 154 of a microswitch 155 which switch, ashereinafter more fully described, is in the circuit for said solenoid144 and is effective for closing said circuit upon the counterclockwiserocking of said bell crank 153. The other arm of said bell crank 153 isformed with a projecting shoulder disposed in the bearing engagementwith a rock arm 156 pivoted to the left hand frame plate 41. Anadditional rock arm 157 is formed with an ear overlying the front edgeof the arm 156 and is pivotally joined to a rock arrn158 which isclamped fast to the left hand end of the rectangular stop shaft 152.Upon the counterclockwise rocking of the bell crank 153 the arms 156,157 operate as a toggle to rock the arm 158 and shaft 152counterclockwise, as viewed in Fig. 4, or clockwise, as viewed in Fig.l, so as to swing the stop 151 to its open position at the same timethat the increased pressure is applied to the roller 133 by thesimultaneous energization of the solenoid 144. The bell crank 153 isactuated by means of a Bowden wire 161 one end of which is supported inbearing engagement with a shoulder of the bell crank by means of abracket 162 secured to the side frame plate 41. The other end of saidBowden wire is supported in a bracket 163 secured to the paper carriagemounting rail 22, said other Iend of the Bowden wire being disposed inbearing relation to one end of a follower lever 164 pivotally carried bysaid bracket 163. A cam 165 formed as shown in Fig. 1l carried by thecompensating drum of the sheet feed drive mechanism, heretoforedescribed, is disposed in cooperative relation with a roller 166 mountedon the other end of said follower lever 164. Said cam, as seen also inFig. 6, for adjustment purposes is in the form of a ring and is heldfirm between two clamping discs 167 on bolts 168 which carry a spacingcollar 169 andare suitably mounted on a supporting disc 171 which issecured fast on said compensating drum of the drive mechanism. Asheretofore mentioned, said drum makes one complete revolution for eachsheet fed, each complete revolution of said drum starting from the homeposition thereof constituting one feed cycle. Accordingly, at apredetermined point of each feeding cycle the cam 165 will be effectivefor causing the actuation of the solenoid 144 and opening the stop 151for releasing a sheet from its registration station to the platen 17.

An additional cam 175, see alsoFigs. 1 and 12, is also adjustablycarried between clamping discs 167 supported on the bolts 168 ofthecompensating drum `of the paper feed Adrive mechanism. Said cam 175`cooperates `with '1a roller 176 carried by the contact arm 177 of amicroswitch 180, said switch being suitably secured to the papercarriage mounting rail 22. The short rise of the cam 175 is effective ata predetermined point in the feeding cycle to momentarily close thecontacts of the switch 180 thereby establishing a circuit for thesolenoid 100 which, as heretofore described, when energized operates torock the feed rollers 88 into active feeding position against the feedrolls 87.

The cam 165, 175 may be adjusted in a number of different ways dependingupon the length of the forms being fed, the position on the form atwhich the first printing line is desired and the size of thecompensating gear 32 which is employed. The setting of cam 165 whichcontrols the opening of the card stop 151 determines the position on theform or sheet at which first printing line will occur. For example, ifit were desired to start printing on each form at the first printingline thereof, the cam 165 would be adjusted to open the card stop 151 atthat point in the feeding cycle whereat the remainder of the feedingcycle, which includes the compensating feed stroke, would advance thesheet just to the position Where the first print line thereof wouldalign with the type firing pins 15. If it were desired to have theprinting of each sheet start below the first print line then the cam 165would be adjusted to open the card stop 151 earlier in the feeding cycleso that the sheet would be further advanced by the completion of thefeeding cycle. The cam 175 is adjusted so as to start the withdrawal ofa sheet from the loading magazine at `such time in the feeding cycle asto cause the sheet so withdrawn to reach the card stop 151 when inclosed position. The adjustment thereof depends in part upon therelation between the length of the forms being fed and the size of thecompensating gear 32. For eX- ample, when feeding forms eleven incheslong a compensating gear 32, suiicient in size to cause a slightly`longer travel than eleven inches, i. e., a thirteen inch compensatinggear, would be employed. Under such circumstances a two inch gap wouldresult between successive forms feeding to the platen 17. However, theholding of the preceding sheet in the registration station against thestop 151 results in the succeeding sheet closing down said two inch gapduring the period that the preceding sheet is being thus held. It willof course be understood that one reason for holding the sheet at theregistration station is to effect accurate registration thereof byenabling correction of any skewing or skipping of the sheet during itstravel to said registration station. Accordingly, cam 175 is adjusted torock the feed rollers 88 to active position at such time as to hold asheet at the registration station a sufficient period for effectingaccurate registration but not of such a duration as will result inoverrunning of the sheet at the registration station by the sheet whichsucceeds it. p

The leading edge of each sheet released from the registration station isguided to the platen by a light leaf spring 181 Secured to the bottom ofthe rear passage guide 128 and which directs the sheet between theplaten 17 and the rear most one of a pair of pressure rolls 182. Thesheets are held firmly against the platen by action of said pressurerolls 182 in cooperation with a lower paper guide 183, the forward endof which is overlapped by an upper paper guide 184. An additionalpressure roller 185 maintains the sheet in firm engagement with theplaten after passing printing position. It will, of course, beunderstood that there are a plurality of pressure rollers 182 and guides183 arranged in spaced intervals in a row extending longitudinally ofthe platen so as to properly engage sheets of various widths, and thatthe upper guides 184 and pressure rolls 185 are arranged in pairs whichmay be slidably adjusted longitudinally of the platen so as to cooperatewith the side edges of a sheet regardless of its lateral dispositionrelative to the platen.

The sheets are fed from the platen through a passage ideiined by `anarcuate shield 186 and guide strip 187,

which shield and strip extend between and are suitably secured to theside frame plates 41, 42 of the unit.

The sheets are withdrawn from the platen and ejected by means of aplurality of paired belts 190, 191 which are disposed at spacedintervals between the side frame plates 41, 42, see also Figs. 5 and 6,and which frictionally engage each sheet as delivered from between theshield 186 and strip 187. The belt 190 is the driving belt and isreached about rows 192, 193, and a driving roll 194 mounted on a beltdrive shaft 195. The rolls 192, 193 and shaft 195 are suitablyjournalled in the side frame plates 41, 42, the shaft 195 at its righthand end, see Fig. 3, having mounted thereon a drive pulley 196. A drivebelt 197 reached about the pulley 196 and a pulley 198 on the feed rollshaft 90 drives the shaft 195 in step with the feed roll shaft. Foradjusting the tension of the belt 190, idler pulleys 201 freely mountedon a cross rod 202 are provided for each belt, said cross rod beingadjustably secured in slotted portions of the side frame plates 41, 42.Each belt 191 is reached about rolls 203, 204 and pulleys 205 freelymounted on a cross rod 206. Said rolls 203, 204 and rod 206 are suitablycarried by the side frame plates 41, 42, the roll 204 being adjustablysupported in a slotted portion of the frame plates to enable properadjustment of the tension'of the belt 191. Said belts, which are drivenin step with rotation of the platen, eject the sheets onto a sheetreceiver member which may be of any desired form depending upon the sizeof the sheets being fed and which in the present instance is shown as atray 207 disposed with a slight forward incline and being supported atits rear end on brackets 208 slidably mounted on a cross rod 209. Itwill, of course, be understood that a receiver in the form of a magazinecould readily be substituted in place of the tray 207 in the event itwere desired to have the sheets or cards fed by the mechanism arrangedin accu- ,rately stacked relation.

The wiring diagram, see Fig, 10, illustrates the manner in which thevarious control solenoids heretofore mentioned are timed to operateunder control of the cams 165, 175. A suitable source of alternatingcurrent is supplied to the leads 210, 211. A power pack which may bedisposed at any convenient location in the machine and comprising atransformer 212, full wave rectifier 213 and filter capacitor 214provides a constant source of direct current on leads 215, 216. Saidleads 215, 216 run to the solenoid 144 which, as heretofore described,when energized is effective for increasing the pressure on the pressurerollers 133, the lead 215 containing the contacts :1 of the micro-switch155 which are closed at the proper time in the feeding cycle by bellcrank 153 under control of the cam 165. Arc suppression means comprisinga resistor 217 in series with a capacitor 218 and connected across thecontacts 155e is provided to eliminate arcing at said contacts. By thesemeans it will be seen that at a predetermined time in each feeding cycleand simultaneously with the opening of the stops 151 which are alsounder control of the cam 165, which time depends upon the desired linespace whereat the first print line is to occur, the solenoid 144 will beenergized to increase the pressure on the rolls 133. Direct current isemployed for the solenoid 144 in order to provide uniformity in the timeinterval at which said solenoid reaches peak efficiency after theclosure of the contacts 155a.

The circuits for the solenoid 100, which are under control of the cam175, include three relays 220 221, and 222, mounted as seen in Fig. 4 onthe left hand frame plate 41, the relay 220 having single normallyclosed contact 220a, the relays 221, 222 being holding relays forsolenoid 100 each having normally `open double contacts 221a, 22111,222a, and 2221;, respectively. 4At the proper predetermined time in thefeeding cycle, somewhat in ad- 'vance of the closure of contacts 155a bycam 165, the cam operates to momentarily close contacts 18011 of themicro-switch to establish a circuit from A. C.

conductor 210 through -lead 223, contacts 180a, lead-224,

contacts 224m of relay 220, lead 225, through the -coil 'of relay 221and the A. C. conductor 211. The closure of contacts `221a,221bcompletes a holding circuit for solenoid 100 from conductor `210 overleads 226, 227,

also sets up a parallel circuit which runs from the lead 227 through'lead 231, contacts 123g, when closed, of microswitch `123, which-asheretofore described are controlled by the sensing fingers 118 andopened by passage Tof the sheet over said sensing fingers, to thecontacts =232a of a reset button 232 which, as seen in Fig. 4, isvmounted on the left frame plate 41. From the contacts 232a saidparallel circuit is completed through leads 233, the coil of relay 222,to the conductor 211.

The closure of contacts 222g, 222b upon energization of ythe relay 222,completes an independent holding circuit for the solenoid `101) whichruns from conductor 210,

contacts 222b, 222e, lead 228, the solenoid 10i) and lead 229 to theconductor 211. The closure of contacts 222e, 222b also completes aparallel circuit for energizing relay 220, which parallel circuit runsfrom the conductor 210,

lcontacts 222i), lead 234, through the coil of relay 221i and to theconductor 211 thus energizing relay 220 to open the locking circuit forrelay 221. It will be seen that the circuit tothe coil of relay 222establishes a separate holding circuit for the solenoid 100 and iseffective for breaking the first mentioned holding circuit to solenoid160 established through the contacts of relay 221 while maintaining theindependent holding circuit to the solenoid as long as the contacts 123eand 232a remain closed. The reset button 232 is provided to permitmanual opening of the circuit to solenoid 11D@ which is normallynecessary when starting the first sheet through the feed mechanism. Thisfunction of opening said circuit to solenoid 100 is normally, during theoperation of the machine, accomplished by the contacts 123g under thecontrol of the sensing fingers 118, butsince, when starting the feed ofthe first sheet, there is no sheet in position for engaging said sensinglingers, the manually operable reset button `232 is thereby provided.The provision of separate hold- -mg circuits for solenoid 100, throughthe contacts of relays 221 and 222 respectively, permits wideflexibility in adjusting the timing of the mechanism for sheets ofvarioussizes and for various rst print line positions thereon -since theholding circuit for solenoid 10d through contacts of relay l221 givesassurance that sheet withdrawal will always be started at the propertime of a feeding cycle regardless of whether or not the preceding sheetat that time of the cycle has cleared the sensing fingers so as to closecontacts 123e as is required for establishing the other holding circuitfor solenoid 100.

The solenoid 85 which, as heretofore mentioned, regulates the amount ofvacuum applied to the individual vacuum chambers, is in a circuitparallel to that for solenoid 100, said vacuum regulating solenoid beingconnected to the leads 223, 229. In this manner it will be seen thatwhenever the solenoid 10d is energized to throw the rollers 88 intoactive feeding position, the solenoid 85 Will be Veffective for reducingthe Vacuum in the vacuum chambers thereby lessening the drag on thesheet being fed. When the solenoid 1013 is de-energized, the concurrentcle-energization of solenoid 85 enables the opening up of the vacuumsupply control valve 81 so as to create the maximum vacuum at that timefor separating the lowermost sheet from the remainder of the stack inthe manner hercinbefore described.

ylFigsf/ and 8 illustrate diagrammatically the .location .of sheets inthe feeding mechanism for two typical applications ofthe invention.

Fig. 7 illustrates the manner in which relatively long sheets such asstandard letter sizesheets having the length of eleven inches vare fedthrough the mechanism, while Fig. S illustrates how relatively shortersheets such as the standard tabulating card having the length of threeand one quarter inches is fed through the mechanism. In each case theparts are shown in the position they assume when a sheet is in theregistration station and at that point in the feeding cycle which isimmediately prior to the time that the stops 151 open to release thesheet from the registration station to the platen 17. In the case of theeleven inch sheets, as shown in Fig. 7, it will be understood that acompensating gear 32, see Fig. l, is employed which has a circumferenceequivalent to a feed of slightly more than eleven inches and in thepresentinstance it is assumed that the compensating gear employed willresult during one rotation thereof, in a feed of thirteen inches or inother words, seventy-eight line spaces. This relationship between thelength of the sheet and the size of the compensating gear result in atwo inch gap between succeeding sheets as they feed about the platen 17and as they are withdrawn from the loading magazine.

it should also be understood that in each case the cams 165, 175 are soadjusted that the cam 175 will operate to energize solenoid 1d@ to startthe withdrawal of a sheet from the magazine approximately' 36 of thefeeding cycle in advance of the time that cam 165 operates to open thestops 151 and release a sheet from the registration station. Thisadjustment results in each sheet being held by the stop forapproximately one-tenth of the feeding cycle which period in the case ofthe eleven inch sheet 235 and thirteen inch compensating gear isequivalent to one and three-tenths inches of feed by the sheetspreceding and succeeding the sheet in the registration station. In thecase or the three and one-quarter inch sheet or card 236, Vas shown inFig. 8, employing a tive inch compensating gear, the one-tenth feedingcycle adjustment for registration purposes is the equivalent of one-halfinch of feed by the cards 236 which precede and succeed the card at theregistration station.

As shown in Fig. 7 the sheet 235e in printing position about platen 17is approaching the last printing line thereof while the succeeding sheet235b is held in the registration station against the stop 151. When thetrailing edge of the sheet'235a about the platen 17 has reached adistance exactly two inches from the card stop 151, said stop will beopened by operation of cam 165 which will result in bringing saidsucceeding sheet into the desired first `line printing position upon thecompletion of the feeding cycle. It will be noted that it makes nodifference whether the stop 151 is opened during the course of a linespace feed stroke or of a long compensating feed stroke, and whether itoccurs during one or the other depends upon the length of the particularcompensating feed stroke and also upon the relative line on each sheeton which it is desired to have the first printing occur. It will benoted that the eleven inch sheet is longer than the distance from thestop 151 to the feed rolls 113. Since rolls 113 and rollers 114 areunder constant tension or pressure they continue to feed the trailingedge of the sheet while the leading edge is held by the stops 151 thusproducing a loop in the sheet which is accommodated for by the yieldabledapper 125. When a sheet is in the registration station the rolls 131and rollers y133 act only Vas skid rolls to properly register the sheetagainst the stops 151 since at this stage of the feeding cycle thesolenoid 141-41 which operates the rock shaft 140 is deenergized toremove the maximum pressure on the rollers 133. Immediately upon openingof the stop 151, solenoid 14d is energized to rock the shaft 14111 tothe position as shown in Fig. 9 thereby applying maximum pressure to therollers 133 so as to prevent any slippage on the sheet from the momentthat the stops are open. As thetrailing edge of the sheet 235b at theregistration lstation is withdrawn' from `the loading magazine, theports v64 `ofthe vacuum` chambers are graduallytopened causing the nowbottom sheet 235e of the stack to be gradually drawn about the arcuateportion of the vacuum chambers and over said ports. 64. When thetrailing edge of sheet 235k has reached a point two inches from thethroat of the loadingmagazine, cam 175 will be effective for energizingthe solenoid` 100 causing the rollers 88 to swing to active position andthereby start the feeding of the lowermost sheet 235C then in themagazine. It will be noted that as the solenoid 100 is energized atatime vwhen the preceding sheet in the registration station is still inposition to rock the sensing fingers 118 to the position wherein thecontacts 1230: of the micro-switch 123 are open, although, as describedpreviously in connection with the wiring diagram, the opening of thecontacts 123:1 by action of the leading edge of the sheet beingwithdrawn from the magazine, operated to break the circuitto solenoid100 so as to restore the rollers 88 to their inactive position. Theestablishment of a separate holding circuit for the solenoid 100 to beeffective when contacts 123a are open is made possible by the lockingcircuit for relay 221 which runs from conductor 210 through contacts221g, 221b leads 230, 224, contact 220er, lead 225 through the coil ofrelay 221 and to conductor 211. However, the moment the trailing edge ofthe sheet in the registration station passes the sensing fingers 118,contacts 123a close to complete the circuit heretofore described throughrelay 222 which operates to break the aforesaid locking circuit to relay221 whereupon the second mentioned holding circuit is maintained tosolenoid 100 only until the contacts 123a are again opened by action ofthe leading edge of the succeeding sheet striking the sensing fingers118 to thereby restore the rollers 88 to their inactive position. Bythis arrangement, which requires that the contacts 123a be closedmomentarily before the solenoid i) can be deenergized to restore therollers 88, assurance is provided that the necessary gap betweensuceeding sheets passing the sensing fingers 118 is present, otherwise,in the absence of such a gap resulting from any possible misfeedcondition in the loading magazine, the continued withdrawal ofsucceeding sheets would be impossible thus indicating to an operator amisfeed condition and at the same time preventing jamming of a pluralityof sheets within the feeding mechanism.

In setting up the mechanism for feeding the relatively shorter sheets orcards 236, as seen in Fig. 8, a smaller or five inch compensating gear32 is preferably employed, although it should be understood that acompensating gear of larger size could be employed if desired. Thelarger the compensating gear is with relationto the length of the formsbeing fed merely results in a longer gap between succeeding sheets withconsequent higher velocity in the speedof feed during thecompensatingfeed stroke. The use of a ve inch compensating gear with thesheets or card 236, shown in Fig. 8, will result in a gap of one andthree-quarter inches between the cards as they feed about the platen 17and as they are withdrawn from the throat` of the loading magazine. Theprinciple of operation for feeding cards 236 is substantially identicalwith that described in connection with the longer form shown in Fig. 7.In the case of the shorter forms 236 it will be seen that when the cardis about to leave the registration station, the preceding. card reachedabout the platen 17 is substantially closer to the first or top printingline thereof than in the case ofthe longer sheets. The card 236 at theregistration station is not as long as the distance from the stop 151 tothe feed rollers 113 and therefore no loop is formed therein and theilapper 12S remains normal. The relatively shorter length of the cards235 results in the `card succeeding the card at the registration stationbeing substantially withdrawn from the loading magazine. ltwill `benotedthat said succeeding card 236C is `still, in the grip of therollers 38 and rolls 87 since the leading edge thereof has not` yetactuated the sensing fingers 11S.,` Assoonasthe leading edge of saidsucceeding card actuates the sensing lingers 1,18 the continued advancethereofwill be effected by the rolls 113 androllers 114` since the`rollers S8 will be restored to their inactive position to enable thebottom most sheet or card 236 then in the magazine to be separated fromthe stack and drawn about the arcuate surface of the vacuum chambers. Itwill be noted that at this stage of the feeding operation which is justprior to the opening of the stop 151, the gap between the card andregistration position and the succeeding card is somewhat less than thegap between said card in registration position and the card about theplaten. This lessened gap is the result of the holding of each card bythe stops 151 for approximately one-tenth of the feeding cycle to enablethe proper registration thereof in the manner and for the reasonshereinbefore described.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the mechanism operates tofeed, at the relatively high operating speed of business machines,individual disconnected sheets which may be of a variety of sizes andwhich may be disposed laterally at any desired location with respect tothe longitudinal axis of the platen of the machine; that each sheet sofed by the mechanism will be accurately registered within the feedingmechanism immediately prior to its delivery or release to the platen;that eachl sheet will be released from said registration position at theprecise moment of the feeding cycle required to bring the desired irstprint line thereof into exact alignment with the type tiring mechanismupon the completion of the feeding cycle; and that in the event amisfeed situation should develop in the course of operation as a resultof abnormal conditions of the sheets, the means for withdrawing thesheets from the magazine will become inoperative to prevent jamming ofthe sheets and erroneous operation of the mechanism.

While there has herein been described what is believed to be a preferredembodiment of the invention, it will of course be recognized that theinvention may readily be embodied in other forms without departing fromthe scope thereof, and it is therefore desired that the inven* tion benot limited to the exact form herein shown and described and to nothingless than the whole ofthe invention as set forth in the followingclaims.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a machine of the class described operable through a succession ofmachine cycles, mechanism for feeding sheets of exible material intoaccurately spaced relationship with respect to an operating stationtherefor and comprising in combination, means operable each feedingcycle for withdrawing single sheets from a plurality thereof prearrangedin stack formation, each feeding cycle comprising one or more machinecycles during each of which may be imparted to said mechanism a shortintraf' sheet spacing feed stroke or a long inter-sheet compensatingfeed stroke, said withdrawing means advancing each sheet towards saidoperating station, means disposed adjacent said operating station forregistering each sheet advanced thereto, said registering means beingoperable each feeding cycle for delivering each sheet when registered tosaid operating station, and means for timing the operation of saidregistering means and said withdrawing means to render said registeringmeans effective for releasing each sheet at such time as will cause adesired portion thereof to reach said operating station at apredetermined point of the feeding cycle, said timing mean-s controllingsaid withdrawing means to operate the latter for advancing each sheet tosaid registering means` 2. In a machine of the class described operablethrough a succession of machine cycles, mechanism for feeding sheets offlexible material into accurately spaced relation ship` with respect toan operating station therefor and cornprising in combination, means forseparating single sheets from a plurality thereof prearranged in stackformation,

means operable each feeding cycle for advancing each,

Separated sheet toward said operating station, each feeding cyclecomprising one or more machine cycles during each of which may beimparted to said mechanism a short intra-sheet spacing feed stroke or along inter-sheet compensating feed stroke, means disposed adjacent saidoperating station for registering each sheet advanced thereto, saidregistering means being operable each feeding cycle for delivering eachsheet when registered to said operating station, and means for timingthe operation of said registering means and said withdrawing means torender said registering means effective for releasing each sheet at suchtime as will cause a desired portion thereof to reach said operatingstation at a predetermined point of the feeding cycle, said timing meanscontrolling said withdrawing means to operate the latter for advancingeach sheet to said registering means.

3. In a machine of the class described operable through a succession ofmachine cycles, mechanism for feeding sheets of iiexible material intoaccurately spaced relationship with respect to an operating stationtherefor and comprising in combination, means operable each feedingcycle for withdrawing single sheets from a plurality thereof prearrangedin stack formation, each feeding cycle comprising one or more machinecycles during each of which may be imparted to said mechanism a shortintrasheet spacing feed stroke or a long inter-sheet compensating feedstroke, said withdrawing means advancing each sheet toward saidoperating station, registering means disposed adjacent said operatingstation including a member operable for momentarily engaging andsubsequently releasing the leading edge of a sheet advancing toward saidoperating station said registering means including feeding elementsoperable to feed and hold said leading edge in register against saidmember when said member is in sheet engaging position and to delivereach sheet from said registering means when said member is not in sheetengaging position, and means for timing the operation of saidregistering means and said withdrawing means to render said registeringmeans effective for releasing each sheet at such time as will cause adesired portion thereof to reach said operating station at apredetermined point of the feeding cycle, said timing means controllingsaid withdrawing means to operate the latter for advancing each sheet tosaid registering means.

4. In a machine of the class described operable through a succession ofmachine cycles, mechanism for feeding sheets of exible material intoaccurately spaced relationship with respect to an operating stationtherefor and comprising in combination, means for separating singlesheets from 4a plurality thereof prearranged in stack formation,withdrawing means operable each feeding cycle for advancing eachseparated sheet toward said operating station, each feeding cyclecomprising one or more machine cycles during each of which may beimparted to said mechanism a short intra-sheet spacing feed stroke or along inter-sheet compensating feed stroke, registering means disposedadjacent said operating station and including a member operable formomentarily engaging and subsequently releasing the leading edge of eachsheet advancing to said operating station, said registering meansincluding feeding elements operable to advance -and maintain the leadingedge of a sheet in engagement with said member when said member is insheet engaging position and for delivering said sheet from saidregistering means when said member is in non-engaging position, andmeans for timing the operation of said registering means yand saidwithdrawing means to render said registering means effective forreleasing each sheet at such time as will cause a desired portionthereof to reach said operating station at a predetermined point of thefeeding cycle, said timing means controlling said withdrawing means tooperate the latter for advancing each sheet to said registering means.

5 In a machine of the class described operable through a ,succession ofmachine cycles, mechanism for feeding sheets of exible material intoaccurately spaced relationship with respect to an operating stationtherefor and comprising in combination, means operable each feedingcycle for withdrawing single sheets from a plurality thereof prearrangedin stack formation, each feeding cycle comprising one or more machinecycles during each of which may be imparted to said mechanism a shortintra-sheet spacing feed stroke or a long inter-sheet compensating feedstroke, said withdrawing means advancing each sheet toward saidoperating station, means disposed adjacent said operating station forregistering each sheet advanced thereto, said registering means beingoperable each feeding cycle for delivering each sheet when registered tosaid operating station, means for timing the operation of saidregistering means to render said registering means effective forreleasing each sheet at such time as will cause a desired portionthereof to reach said operating station at a predetermined point of thefeeding cycle, and timing means controlling said withdrawing means tooperate the latter for advancing each sheet to said registering means,said last mentioned timing means including a sheet sensing memberdisposed for engagement by each sheet when advanced a predeterminedextent by said withdrawing means, said sensing member when engagedcontrolling said withdrawing means to prevent the continued operation ofsaid withdrawing means on each sheet when advanced to said predeterminedextent and until said withdrawing means are again rendered operable forWithdrawing a succeeding sheet in the succeeding feeding cycle undercontrol of said last mentioned timing means.

6. In a machine of the class described operable through a succession ofmachine cycles, mechanism for feeding sheets of flexible material intoaccurately spaced relationship with respect to an operating stationtherefor and comprising in combination, means for separating singlesheets from a plurality thereof prearranged in stack formanon, meansoperable each feeding cycle for advancing each separated sheet towardsaid operating station, each feeding cycle comprising one or moremachine cycles during each of which may be imparted to said mechanism ashort intra-sheet spacing feed stroke or a long inter-sheet compensatingfeed stroke, means disposed adjacent said operating lstation forregistering each sheet advanced thereto, said registering means beingoperable each feeding cycle for delivering each sheet when registered tosaid operating station, means for timing the operation of saidregistering means to render said registering means effective forreleasing each sheet at such time as will cause a desired portionthereof to reach said operating station at a predetermined point of thefeeding cycle, and timing means controlling said withdrawing means tooperate the latter for advancing each sheet to said registering means,said last mentioned timing means including a sheet sensing memberdisposed for engagement by each sheet when advanced by said withdrawingmeans a predetermined extent, said sensing member controlling saidwithdrawing means to prevent the continued operation of said withdrawingmeans on each sheet when advanced said predetermined extent and untilsaid withdrawing means are rendered operable for withdrawing asucceeding sheet in the next feeding cycle under control of said lastmentioned timing means.

7, In a machine of the class described operable through a succession ofmachine cycles, mechanism for feeding sheets of flexible material intoaccurately spaced relationship with respect to an operating stationtherefor and comprising in combination, means operable each feedingcycle for withdrawing single sheets from a plurality thereof prearrangedin stack formation, each feeding cycle comprising one or more machinecycles during each of which may be imparted to said mechanism a shortintrasheet spacing feed stroke or a long inter-sheet compensating feedstroke, said withdrawing means advancing each sheet toward saidoperating station, registering means disposed adjacent said operatingstation including a member operable for momentarily engaging andsubsequently releasing the leading edge of the sheet advancing towardsaid operating station, said registering means including feedingelements operable to feed and hold said leading edge in register againstsaid member when said member is in sheet engaging position and todeliver each sheet from said registration station when said member isnot in sheet engaging position, means for timing the operationof saidregistering means to render said registering means effective forreleasing each sheet at such time as will cause a desired portionthereof to reach said operating station at a predetermined point of thefeeding cycle, and timing means controlling said withdrawing means tooperate the latter for advancing each sheet to said registering means,said last mentioned timing means including a sensing member disposed forengagement by each sheet when withdrawn a predetermined extent, saidsensing member when engaged controlling said withdrawing means to rendersaid withdrawing means inoperable for advancing each sheet afterreaching said predetermined extent of advance and until said withdrawingmeans are again rendered operable for withdrawing a succeeding sheet inthe succeeding feeding cycle under control of said last mentioned timingmeans.

8. ln a machine of the class described operable through a succession ofmachine cycles, mechanism for feeding sheets of flexible material intoaccurately spaced relationship with respect to an operating stationtherefor and comprising in combination, means for separating singlesheets from a plurality thereof prearranged in stack formation,withdrawing means operable each feeding cycle for advancing eachseparated `sheet toward said operating station, each feeding cyclecomprising one or more machine cycles during each of which may beimparted to said mechanism -a short intra-sheet spacing feed stroke or along inter-sheet compensating feed stroke, registering means disposedadjacent said operating station and including a member operable formomentarily engaging and subsequently releasing the leading edge of eachsheet advancing to said operating station, said registering meansincluding feeding elements operable to advance and maintain the leadingedge of a sheet in engagement with said member when said member is insheet engaging position and for delivering said sheet from saidregistering means when said member is in non-engaging position, meansfor timing the operation of said registering means to render saidregistering means eiective for releasing each sheet at such time as willcause a desired portion thereof to reach said operating station at apredetermined point of the feeding cycle, and timing means controllingsaid withdrawing means to operate the latter for advancing each sheet tosaid registering means, said last mentioned tim- `lng means including asensing member disposed for er1- gagement by each sheet when advanced bysaid withdrawing means a predetermined extent, said sensing member whenengaged controlling said withdrawing means to render said withdrawingmeans inoperable for continuing the withdrawal of each sheet afteradvanced said predetermined extent and until said withdrawing means arerendered operable for withdrawing a succeeding sheet in the succeedingfeeding cycle under control of said last mentioned timing means.

9. In a machine of the class described having a rotable platen forsupporting individual sheets of flexible material of various sizes in aplurality of line space positions, and platen driving means for rotatingsaid platen in each feeding cycle an extent bearing a predeterminedratio to the length of said sheets, a magazine for supporting aplurality of said sheets in stack formation, sheet guide means fordirecting said sheets from said magazine toward said platen andincluding feeding members driven by said driving means in step with saidplaten for advancingeach sheet through said guide means, means driven bysaid platen driving means in step with said platen and operable eachfeeding cycle forwithdrawing single sheets 1d from said magazine, saidwithdrawing means advancing each single sheet into said guide means,means associated with said guide means and disposed adjacent said platenfor registering each sheet fed thereto, said registering means beingoperable each feeding cycle for delivering each sheet when registered tosaid platen, and means adjustable in accordance with the length of saidsheets for timing the operation of said registering means and saidwithdrawing means to render said registering means effective forreleasing each sheet at such time as will cause a desired line spacethereof to reach said platen at a predetermined point of the feedingcycle, said timing means controlling said withdrawing means to operatethe latter for advancing each sheet to said registering means.

l0. In a machine of the class described having a rotable platen forsupporting individual sheets of exible material of various sizes in aplurality of line space positions, and platen driving means for rotatingsaid platen in each feeding cycle an extent bearing a predeterminedratio to the length of said sheets, a magazine for supporting aplurality of said sheets in stack formation, sheet guide means fordirecting said sheets from said magazine toward said platen andincluding feeding members driven by said driving means in step with saidplaten for advancing each sheet through said guide means, vacuumapplying means within said magazine for separating one edge of a singlesheet from said plurality of sheets in stack formation, means driven bysaid platen driving means in step with said platen and operable eachfeeding cycle for engaging said separated edge and advancing said edgeinto said guide means, means associated with said guide means anddisposed adjacent said platen for registering each sheet fed thereto,said registering means being operable each feeding cycle for deliveringeach sheet when registered to said platen, and means adjustable inaccordance with the length of said sheet for timing the operation ofsaid registering means and said withdrawing means to render saidregistering means effective for releasing each sheet at such time aswill cause a desired line space thereof to reach said platen at apredetermined point of the feeding cycle, said timing means controllingsaid withdrawing means to operate the latter for advancing each sheet tosaid registering means.

ll. In a machine of the class described having a rotable platen forsupporting individual sheets of flexible material of various sizes in aplurality of line space positions, and platen driving means for rotatingsaid platen in each feeding cycle an extent bearing a predeterminedratio to the length of said sheets, a magazine for supporting aplurality of said sheets in stack formation, sheet guide means fordirecting said sheets from said magazine toward said platen andincluding feeding members driven by said driving means in step with saidplaten for advancing each sheet through said guide means, means drivenby said platen driving means in step with said platen and operable eachfeeding cycle for withdrawing single sheets from said magazine, saidwithdrawing means advancing each single sheet into said guide means,sheet registering means cooperating with said guide means and disposedadjacent said platen including a member operable for momentarilyengaging and subsequently releasing the ieading edge of each sheetadvancing toward said platen, said registering means including feedingelements operable to feed and hold said leading edge in register againstsaid member when said member is in sheet engaging position and todeliver each sheet from said registering means when said member is notin sheet engaging position, and means adjustable in accordance with thelength of said sheets for timing the operation of said registering meansand said withdrawing means to render said registering means effectivefor releasing each sheet at such time as will cause a desired line spacethereof to reach said platen -at a predetermined point of a feedingcycle, said timing means controlling said withdrawing means to operatethe latter for advancing each sheet to said registering means.

l2. In a machine of the class described having a rotatable platen forsupporting individual sheets of flexible material of various sizes in aplurality of line space positions, and platen driving means for rotatingsaid platen each feeding cycle an extent bearing a predetermined ratioto the length of said sheets, a magazine for supporting the plurality ofsaid sheets in stack formation, sheet guiding means for directing saidsheets from said magazine toward said platen and including feedingmembers driven by said driving means in step with said platen foradvancing each sheet through said guiding means, vacuum applying meansin said magazine for separating one edge of a single sheet from saidplurality of said sheets in stack formation, means driven by said platendriving means in step with said platen and operable each feeding cyclefor engaging said separated edge and advancing said single sheet intosaid guide means, sheet registering means cooperating with said guidemeans and disposed adjacent said platen including a member operable formomentarily engaging and subsequently releasing the leading edge of asheet advancing toward said platen, said registering means includingfeeding elements operable to feed and hol-d said leading edge inregister against said member when said member is in sheet engagingposition and to deliver each sheet from said registering means when saidmember is not in sheet engaging position, and means adjustably settablein accordance with the length `of said sheets for timing the operationof said registering means and said withdrawing means to render saidregistering means effective for releasing each sheet at such time aswill cause a desired line space thereof to reach said platen at apredetermined point of the feeding cycle, said timing means controllingsaid withdrawing means to operate the latter for advancing each sheet tosaid registering means.

13. In a machine of the class described having a platen for supportingindividual sheets of flexible material in a plurality of line spacepositions, means for driving said platen in each feeding cycle an extentbearing a predetermined ratio to the length of said sheet, and means foradvancing said sheets individually and successively at spaced intervalstoWar-d said platen, said last mentioned means including guide means fordirecting each sheet 1nto engaging relation with said platen, sheetregistering means disposed adjacent to said platen and comprising meansmovable into and out of engaging position with respect to the leadingedge of a sheet advancing through said guide means, said movable meansbeing operated to engage with and subsequently release each sheetadvanced thereto at a predetermined point of a feeding cycle, and sheetfeeding members mounted for differentially gripplng each sheet when insaid registering means, said feedlng members being operated toimpositively advance each grrppedsheet when said movable means is insheet engag- 1ng position and to positively advance said gripped sheetwhen said movable means are not in sheet engaging position.

14. In a machine of the class described having a platen for supportingindividual sheets of flexible material in a plurality of line spacepositions, means for driving said platen in each feeding cycle an extentbearing a predetermined ratio to the length of said sheets, and meansfor advancing said sheets individually and successively at spacedintervals toward said platen, said last mentioned .means including guidemeans for directing each sheet 1nto engageable relation with saidplaten, sheet registering means disposed adjacent to said platen andcomprising a stop member movable into and out of engaging position withrespect to the leading edge of a sheet advancing through said guidemeans, sheet feeding members driven by said driving means in step withsaid platen and disposed for gripping opposed faces of each sheet insaid guiding means, yieldable means urging said feeding members intogripping engagement with said sheet, said yieldable means normallysupplying suicient tension on said feeding members for advancing theleading edge of a gripped sheet against said stop member, said normaltension being insuicient for continuing the advancement of a grippedsheet while the leading edge engages said stop member, means operablethrough said yieldable means for increasing the tension on said feedingmembers, and means associated with said driving means for timing theoperation of said stop member and said tension increasing means, saidtiming means rendering said stop member effective for engaging theleading edge of each sheet feeding through said guide means andsubsequently moving to non-engaging position to release said sheet at apredetermined point of each feeding cycle, said timing means renderingsaid tension increasing means effective simultaneously with the movementof said stop member to non-engaging position and ineffective when saidstop member is in sheet engaging position.

15. In a feeding mechanism of the class described for advancing sheetsof exible material singly and successively at spaced intervals from aplurality thereof prearranged in stack formation, sheet withdrawingmeans comprising a magazine for maintaining said plurality of sheets instack formation, said magazine including a feed table having an arcuateportion aligning with the leading edge of said sheets, means forapplying a vacuum through said arcuate portion of said feed table tosaid magazine, said Vacuum applying means being effective for separatingthe leading edge of a single sheet from the adjacent sheet in saidstack, rotatable feeding mmbers for gripping the leading edge of asingle sheet separated by said vacuum applying means one of said feedingmembers being disposed concentric with said arcuate portion of said feedtable to engage with one face of said separated edge, the other one ofsaid feeding members being disposed for engagement with the oppositeface of said leading edge, means for moving said other feeding memberinto and out of operative relation with said one feeding member atpredetermined points of a feeding cycle, said feeding members when ingripping relation advancing the gripped sheet out of said magazine, andmeans for regulating said vacuum applying means in accordance with themovement of said other feeding member, said regulating means decreasingthe supply of vacuum to said magazine when said other feeding member ismoved to gripping relation with said one feeding member.

16. In a feeding mechanism of the class described for advancing sheetsof flexible material singly at successively spaced intervals from aplurality thereof prearranged in stack formation, sheet withdrawingmeans comprising a magazine for maintaining said plurality of sheets instack formation, said magazine including a feed table having an arcuateportion aligning with the leading edge of said sheets, rotatable feedingmembers for gripping the leading edge of a single sheet, one of saidfeeding members being disposed concentric with said arcuate portion ofsaid feed table to engage with o-ne face of a single sheet, the otherend of said feed members being disposed for engagement with the oppositeface of said single sheet, means for moving said other feeding memberinto and out of operative relation with said one feeding member atpredetermined points of a feeding cycle, a sheet sensing member disposedfor engagement by each sheet when withdrawn by said feeding members apredetermined distance, and means controlled by said sensing member twhen engaged by a sheet for moving said other feeding member out ofoperative relation with said one feeding member.

17. In a feeding mechanism of the class described for advancing sheetsof flexible material singly and successively at spaced intervals from aplurality thereof prearranged in stack formation, sheet withdrawingmeans comprising a magazine for maintaining said plurality of sheets instack formation, said magazine including a feed table having an arcuateportion aligning with the leading edge of said sheets, means forapplying a vacuum through said arcuate portion of said feed table tosaid magazine, said vacuum applying means being effective for separatingthe leading edge of a single sheet from the adjacent sheet in saidstack, rotatable feeding members for gripping the edge of the singlesheet separated by said vacuum applying means, one of said feedingmembers being disposed concentric with said arcuate portion of said feedtable to engage with one face of separated edge, the other one of saidfeeding members being disposed for engagement with the opposite face ofsaid leading edge, means for moving said other feeding member intooperative relation with said one feeding member at a predetermined pointof each feeding cycle, said feeding members when in gripping relationadvancing the gripped sheet out of said magazine, a sheet sensing memberdisposed for engagement by each sheet when withdrawn by said feedingmembers a predetermined distance, and means controlled by said sheetsensing member when engaged by a sheet for moving said other feedingmember out of operative relation with said one feeding member.

18. In a feeding mechanism of the class described for advancing Variablesize sheets of flexible material singly `and successively at spacedintervals to an operating station therefore, sheet registering meansdisposed adjacent said operating station including a member operable formomentarily engaging and subsequently releasing the leading edge of eachsheet advancing to said operating station, sheet feeding membersdisposed for gripping each sheet on opposite faces thereof and operablefor advancing the leading edge of each sheet to said registering means,said feeding members being disposed a predetermined distance from saidsheet engaging member, and means for guiding each sheet from saidfeeding members to said registering means and including guide membersarranged in spaced apart relationship to define a passageway to saidregistering means, one of said members being yieldably maintained innormal guiding relation to the other said member, said one guidingmember yieldably opening said passageway under the stress impartedthereto through each sheet by said feeding members when the leading edgeof said sheet engages said stop member and when the length of said sheetis greater than said predetermined distance between said stop member andsaid feeding members.

19. In =a feeding mechanism of the class described for advancing singlesheets of flexible material successively at spaced intervals from aplurality thereof prearranged in stack formation, said mechanismincluding feeding members rendered active at a predetermined time ofeach feeding cycle for withdrawing a single sheet from said stackformation, and a sheet sensing member disposed for actuation by eachsheet when Withdrawn by said feeding members a predetermined distance,circuit means for controlling said feeding members comprising circuitbreaking means operated by said sensing member when engaged by a sheet,a feed control member effective when energized for rendering saidfeeding members active, means including a first and second holding relayfor maintaining said control member energized, said first holding relayalso establishing through -said circuit breaking means a circuit forsaid second holding relay, said second holding relay when energized alsoestablishing a circuit effective for deenergizing said first holdingrelay, and means operable at a predetermined point of each feeding cyclefor momentarily completing a circuit to said first holding relay.

20. In a feeding mechanism of the class described for advancing singlesheets of flexible material successively at spaced intervals from aplurality thereof prearranged in stack formation, said mechanismincluding feeding members rendered active each feeding cycle forwithdrawing a single sheet from said stack formation, a sheet sensingmember disposed for actuation by each sheet when Withdrawn by saidfeeding members a predetermined distance, and sheet registering meansmomentarily arresting and subsequently releasing a sheet each feedingcycle, said registering means including additional normally impositivefeeding members rendered positive upon the release of each sheet by saidregistering means, circuit means for controlling said feeding memberscomprising circuit breaking means operated by said sensing member whenengaged by a sheet, a first control member effective when energized forrendering said first mentioned feeding members active, a second controlmember effective when energized for rendering said additional feedingmembers positive, means including a first and second holding relayoperable for maintaining a circuit to said first mentioned controlmember, said rst relay also establishing a circuit through said circuitbreaking means to said second holding relay, said second holding relayestablishing a circuit effective for opening the circuit for said firstholding relay, means operable at a predetermined point of each feedingcycle for completing the circuit to said second control member, andmeans operable at a predetermined point of each feeding cycle formomentarily completing a circuit to said first holding relay.

21. In a feeding mechanism of the 1class described for advancing singlesheets of flexible material at successively spaced intervals from aplurality thereof prearranged in stack formation, said mechanismincluding feeding members rendered active each feeding cycle forwithdrawing a single sheet from said stack formation, and a sheetsensing member disposed for actuation by each sheet when withdrawn bysaid feeding members a predetermined distance, circuit means forcontrolling said feeding members comprising contacts opened by saidsensing member when engaged by a sheet, a solenoid effective whenenergized for rendering said feeding members active, a relay havingnormally closed contacts, a first holding relay in a circuit includingsaid normally closed contacts and having normally open contacts, asecond holding relay in a circuit established through the contactsoperated by said sheet sensing member and having normally yopencontacts, a current source, individual holding circuits establishedthrough the contacts of each of said holding relays through saidsolenoid, parallel circuits established through the lcontacts of saidfirst holding relay including a locking circuit for said first holdingrelay and a circuit to said second holding relay, said parallel circuitto said second holding relay including the contacts operated by saidsensing member, a parallel circuit established by the contacts of saidsecond holding relay to said first mentioned relay, and means operatedat a predetermined point of each feeding cycle for completing thecircuit from said source through the contacts of said first mentionedrelay to said first holding relay, said locking circuit through saidfirst mentioned holding relay being broken upon the energization of saidsecond holding relay, the circuit for said second holding relay beingbroken by opening -of the contacts operated by said sensing memberwhereby said solenoid is deenergized to render said feeding membersinactive upon the advance of a sheet said predetermined distance.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,792,149 Duncan Feb. 10, 1931 2,046,001 Scharr June 30, 1936 2,442,970Carroll June 8, 1948

